BBC NEWS | Middle East | Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US: "Syria's foreign minister has accused the US of an act of 'criminal and terrorist aggression' over what it says was a helicopter raid on its territory.
Walid Muallem said Sunday's attack saw four US forces travel eight miles inside Syrian airspace from Iraq and kill eight unarmed civilians on a farm.
He said those who died were a father and his three children, the farm guard and his wife, and a fisherman.
The US has not confirmed or denied the alleged raid.
However, a unnamed US official was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that its forces had mounted a 'successful' raid against foreign fighters threatening US forces in Iraq.
The US has previously accused Syria of allowing militants into Iraq.
'An opportunity'
Speaking at a news conference in London, Mr Muallem said the raid on the town of Abu Kamal was 'not a mistake' and that he had urged the Iraqi government to investigate.
"We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression. We put the responsibility on the American government," he told reporters following talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
"Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression."
Asked if Syria would use force if the Americans mounted a similar operation again, he said: "As long as you are saying if, I tell you, if they do it again, we will defend our terrorities."
The US official quoted by AFP said: "Look when you've got an opportunity, an important one, you take it.
"That's what the American people would expect, particularly when it comes to foreign fighters going into Iraq, threatening our forces."
Walid Muallem said Sunday's attack saw four US forces travel eight miles inside Syrian airspace from Iraq and kill eight unarmed civilians on a farm.
He said those who died were a father and his three children, the farm guard and his wife, and a fisherman.
The US has not confirmed or denied the alleged raid.
However, a unnamed US official was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that its forces had mounted a 'successful' raid against foreign fighters threatening US forces in Iraq.
The US has previously accused Syria of allowing militants into Iraq.
'An opportunity'
Speaking at a news conference in London, Mr Muallem said the raid on the town of Abu Kamal was 'not a mistake' and that he had urged the Iraqi government to investigate.
"We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression. We put the responsibility on the American government," he told reporters following talks with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
"Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression."
Asked if Syria would use force if the Americans mounted a similar operation again, he said: "As long as you are saying if, I tell you, if they do it again, we will defend our terrorities."
The US official quoted by AFP said: "Look when you've got an opportunity, an important one, you take it.
"That's what the American people would expect, particularly when it comes to foreign fighters going into Iraq, threatening our forces."
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